CLEVELAND -- Educators say that there are two types of children who typically lose interest in schoolwork -- gifted kids, and children with learning disabilities.

NewsChannel5's Tonya Strong reported on what parents can do to motivate their children to excel in school.

"If you look at a fourth-grade classroom with 32 kids, the kids at either end of that bell curve aren't getting attention," said educator Deborah Christy. "So it's not the kids in the middle of the road, it's the kids at either end who tend to disengage much more quickly."

The first thing parents can do to help their children is to avoid making threats about the future.

"You can keep saying they'll never get into a good college if they don't take this, but a lot children can't think that far in advance -- they're interested in the right now," said Christy.

Next, think about tutors or alternatives to conventional schooling. Parents can even seek out opportunities, such as magnet schools, in the school district.

Finally, parents need to stay connected with children and listen to them.

"I think the simple act of a parent walking into a child's bedroom, sitting on the bed with no agenda, just showing up and saying what's going on -- and a lot of high school parents don't do that anymore," said Christy.

Educators say this problem of losing interest in school can happen as early as the first grade -- so you need to address it as soon as you start to see it.